ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John F. Copper is the Stanley J. Buckman Professor of International Studies (emeritus) at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of more than thirty books on China, Taiwan and US Asia policy.

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China’s Belt and Road Initiative has its detractors and opponents. To some it is an existential threat. Given its Leviathan nature that is no wonder. Of course, the BRI also has its enthusiasts and supporters.

Judging from Trump’s focus on making deals and building up US military forces to facilitate negotiations, he espouses a realist view of the world. He is not an idealist. He puts little stock in promoting lofty principles.

President Xi’s objectives were to have a good first get-together with President Trump and dampen speculation that they would not get along or that there were explosive issues that divided them and the two countries.

One might argue that US President Donald Trump lacks a worldview. In fact, as he was campaigning to become president, he developed a worldview. There were two choices for him: Preserve the liberal democratic globalism model, or shift to the realist, sovereign nation-state mode of maintaining world order.

It may be that Trump’s tête-à-tête with Xi was more important than simply the two leaders resolving the one-China issue. It included the two leaders inviting each other to visit their country. It seemed to represent détente following more than a month of hostile exchanges.

The negative news and the predictions of China’s collapse were “old hat.” As time passed, these accounts were discredited. So, the Western media had to reset. One tack is to push China and Trump’s America into conflict.

It appears that US President Barack Obama has implemented, or at least has not opposed or sought to block, legislation to birdcage President-elect Donald Trump on future relations with China. He has “arranged” difficulties for Trump’s future attempts to get along with Beijing.

In mid to late December 2016, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe established diplomatic relations with China and broke with Taiwan. The event attracted considerable media attention and evoked speculation as to its significance.